ABSTRACT
In war and conflict there is usually a degree of early warning allowing planning and surgical assets are typically in place. The goals of the surgical response are well defined – provision of life-and limb-saving surgery for the wounded with the aim of conserving the fighting force. Natural disasters typically occur without warning, often involving the destruction or severe degradation of local medical resources. In this environment medical and surgical assets must be brought in by international humanitarian assistance teams to replace or augment local facilities and this takes time.
